St. Thomas athletics entered into its second ever Division I national signing day on Wednesday, Nov. 10, adding Tommies from all over Minnesota and the country.
The Tommies added over 40 signees to its second Division I season rosters. The players include state champions, student-athletes with over a 3.8 GPA and players that add to team culture.
Men’s hockey
The men’s hockey team is in the middle of a rebuilding period bringing in six new recruits, with five being from Minnesota. Coach Rico Blasi recruited strategically in the ‘state of hockey.’
“We want to make sure that we’re good in our region, in our state,” Blasi said. “We’re in the state of hockey, so we want to make sure that we’re being respectful and yet very pinpointed on what we’re doing here and state who we’re recruiting.”
Looking for players that fit the team culture, Blasi thinks these signees are strong student-athletes that check all the boxes.
“It’s kind of a next step in our transition to Division I in terms of making sure we’re improving our team and making sure that we’re getting guys that believe in what we’re trying to do, believe in our culture, believe in St. Thomas,” he said.
Blasi acknowledges the group’s good mix of skill on the ice and hopes to add to the high level of Division I play. The Tommies began this season with nine returners from last year’s DIII team.
Men’s hockey signees include:
Luc Laylin, St. Michael, Minn./Lincoln Stars (USHL) 5-8 F
Quinton Pepper, London, Ontario/Steinbach Pistons (MJHL) 6-3 F
Lucas Wahlin, Woodbury, Minn./Lincoln Stars (USHL) 5-11 F
Josh Eernisse, Apple Valley, Minn./ Tri-City Storm (USHL) 6-2 F
Ethan Elias, Maple Grove, Minn/Omaha Lancers (USHL) 5-8 D
Luke Kron, Andover,Minn./Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL) 6-0 F
Men’s basketball
The men’s basketball team had a strong recruiting year securing four athletes over six foot, six inches. This signing class is ranked 52 of 368 schools according to Rivals.com.
“We feel fortunate because of where we are in our Division I journey, to get four guys of this caliber when they had lots of other options, I think, represents two things,” coach John Tauer said. “It represents their belief and understanding and the value of St. Thomas education, which basketball is a part of.”
Tauer looked for taller players this year to bring up the team average to compete with the big competition. On top of the height aspect, he is bringing in four players who he says connect well.
“We always talk about not recruiting positions, but really recruiting basketball players and guys who can do a lot of different things,” Tauer said. “I think we feel really good that all four of these guys bring different skills, but they’re also very versatile.”
The team is returning nine players in the 2021-2022 season, and Tauer is eager to see his new team compete next year.
“These guys have built a legacy here at the Division III level and I know we are all committed to continue building at a Division I level,” Tauer said. “That’s really based on having outstanding people committed to working together.”
Men’s basketball signees include:
Carter Bjerke, Wayzata, Minn./Wayzata 6-9 F
Kendall Blue, Woodbury, Minn./ East Ridge 6-6 G
Ahjany Lee, Byron, Minn./Totino-Grace 6-9 F
Andrew Rohde, Brookfield, Wis., 6-6 G
Volleyball
Volleyball coach Thanh Pham is gaining seven athletes next year as he is looking to add taller and faster members to the team.
“We were looking to add athleticism and experience to our roster and we’re excited to be adding the class that we have with experienced middles and centers,” Pham said. “We just think that we improved our team by the additions that we signed today.”
In the teams first year in the Summit League, they hold a record of 3-23 and Pham is ready for the challenge of a young team to bring them to the next level.
“There’s going to be some new faces added to the team and we’re just excited to see how the chemistry comes together,” Pham said.
Volleyball signees include:
Liv Anderson, Ankeny, Iowa/Centennial 5-11 OH
Maria Chapman, Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge 5-5 DS
Emma Goerger, Wayzata, Minn./Wayzata 6-4 MB
Keya Luta Win Hunt, Maple Grove, Minn./Breck 5-11 Setter
Allie Kopp, Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park 5-7, S-DS
Megan Wetter, Monticello, Minn./Monticello 6-0, OH
Ava Wild, Fargo, N.D., 6-0 OH
Women’s basketball
The women’s basketball team recently made its Division I debut against the University of Wisconsin-Madison falling 67-51. Coach Ruth Sinn noted the difficulty of recruiting her team last year with COVID-19 restrictions compared to this year, where Sinn was able to gain two new Tommies.
“Last year was difficult without the personal contact aspect,” Sinn said. “Recruiting has become really important now.”
Sinn acknowledges the competitiveness of recruiting Division I athletes and securing the depth the team needs to be successful.
“In Division III, we’re starting to look at juniors and senior year. Now, if you look at our recruiting depth charts, and we’re talking to eighth graders and ninth graders, and so we’ve started the process much earlier and that’s how women’s basketball is in the division one seat.” Sinn said.
Team culture is important for the Tommies and Sinn is confident her two recruits hold the same values along with being good athletes.
“We always look for character, it’s got to be in alignment with what we’re trying to accomplish and bring into our culture,” she said. “They both are bulldogs and they love to compete.”
Women’s basketball signees include:
Amber Scalia, Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater 5-9 G
Fatih Feuerbach, Sycamore Ill., 6-0 G
Softball
The St. Thomas softball team added four recruits Wednesday in hopes to bring power in the pitching circle and at the plate to its roster. Coach Jennifer Bagley Trotter is excited for her team’s future with the four recruits, who hail from Minnesota and Wisconsin.
“We are looking for big things from (Morgen Klein) in the circle as well as in the box,” Bagley Trotter said in a statement to Tommie Sports.
Klein was Southern Lakes Newspapers All-Area Player of the Year in 2021 and threw a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts in her team’s section final to send them to the state tournament.
The recruiting class consists of two pitchers, a catcher, and an outfield/shortstop. Beyond Klein in the circle, Stillwater High School pitcher Keira Murphy will also join St. Thomas’ pitching staff.
“She has played at a high level with a magnitude of success,” Bagley Trotter said in the statement. “Her talent and potential are both huge assets to our team.”
The Tommies will also add outfield/shortstop Avery Wukawitz of East Ridge High School and catcher Cameron Monson of Woodbury High School.
Bagley Trotter has described both athletes as “a rock star in the classroom” and “high achieving young woman,” with the ability to hit for power.
Softball signees include:
Morgan Klein, Burlington, Wis. 5-8 RHP/Util.
Kameron Monson, Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury 5-9 C/OF
Keira Murphy, Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater 5-10 RHP
Avery Wukawitz, Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge 5-8 OF/SS
Baseball
Coach Chris Olean and St. Thomas baseball, which will start its season in the spring, added six recruits to its roster, three of which are from Minnesota with the rest coming from Florida, Illinois and Wisconsin.
The Tommies added three pitchers whom Olean said can get on the mound immediately.
“They have nasty stuff, but they can also execute pitches at a high level,” Olean said in a statement to Tommie Sports. “This combination should make most of them immediate contributors to the staff.”
Olean was happy with the balance he got from the Tommies second recruiting class.
“We have not only high-level athletes, but also high-level baseball players,” Olean said in the statement. “This group will add a level of grit to the program that we need as we continue to build our roster and program to the DI level.”
Not only did Olean and his staff target high-level athletes, but students as well.
“This group is also very talented in the classroom, all posting high grade-point averages as several of them are 3.9 to 4.0 students,” Olean said in the statement. “From a culture standpoint, our program continues to get better with the addition of these young men.”
Baseball signees include:
Santiago Gutierrez Albarra, Jupiter, Fla., 6-3 LHP
Nolan Kemp, Chaska, Minn./Chaska 5-11 RPH
Colin Lewandowski, Naperville, Ill., 6-0 INF
Dylan O’Connell, Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial 5-10 INF
Joe Roder, Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee 6-0 1B/OF
Cooper Smith, Woodbury, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall 5-10 RHP
Wyatt Jensen, Luck, Wis., 5’9 OF
Owen Marsh, Lakewood, Colo., 6’4 RHP
Women’s golf
As first-year coach Katie Hanneman led her team through their inaugural DI season in the Summit League, she made sure to focus on hometown recruiting as well, snagging four Minnesotans to join her Tommies next season.
The group features 2020 Minnesota State High School League Class AA state champion Mallory Belka, Emma Davies, Kate Foley and Caroline Monty.
“They’ll be impact players, all four of them, immediately,” Hanneman said.
Hanneman said she got on the road of recruiting the day after being hired at St. Thomas. Luckily, she didn’t have to go far to find her student-athletes.
“Recruiting is obviously the lifeline of a Division I program and knowing that the state of Minnesota, we have a lot of really good talented young juniors, and so I had a pool to pick from that I felt was great right here in our own backyard,” Hanneman said.
As Hanneman continues to grow the young program, she said her priorities are still on the culture, which she was able to build on this round of recruiting.
“Students first and then the golfer second,” Hanneman said. “We’ve been really lucky to find that combination and that sweet spot right here at home.”
Women’s golf signees include:
Mallory Belka, Perham, Minn.
Kate Foley, Brainerd, Minn.
Emma Davies, Eden Prairie, Minn.
Caroline Monty, Stillwater, Minn.
Men’s soccer
Coach Jon Lowery adds one player to his roster after signing Charlie Hoelscher, a forward and midfielder from Wyoming.
“We are very excited to have Charlie sign to become a Tommie,” Lowery said in a statement to Tommie Sports. “He has dominated by winning all individual and team championships in his home state.
Lowery thinks Hoelscher is a perfect fit at St. Thomas, academically and as a member of the team.
“Physically he sticks out, but also is very technical, and as a coach’s son reads the game very well,” Lowery said.
The Tommies finished its inaugural season with a record of 3-11-2 and 2-4-0 in Summit League competition.
Men’s soccer signees include:
Charlie Hoelscher, Jackson Hole, Wyo., 6-2 MF/F
Women’s soccer
The 4-12-1 St. Thomas women’s soccer team and coach Sheila McGill added ten players to their 2022-23 roster, eight hailing from in-state while the other two are from Wisconsin.
McGill was looking to improve after her team in all facets of its game, as her team finished second to last in the Summit League.
“We are really pleased with this 2022 class, they bring the ability to score goals,” McGill said in a statement to Tommie Sports. “They have the drive and determination to be organized and competitive in The Summit League both on the attack and on defense.”
McGill will hope the culture and athleticism the new recruits will bring in can propel the Tommies to future success.
“They will help raise our team another step closer to where we want to be, but they do it with the team as a whole in mind. They believe in our culture and are ready to join an inclusive and positive group of hard-working, talented returners,” McGill said in the statement.
Women’s soccer signees include:
Ella Bryant, Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee 5-7 MF/F
Ella Clow, Minneapolis, Minn./ Academy of the Holy Angels 5-5 D
Tori Crivello, Brookfield, Wis./Central 5-5 D
CJ Fredkove, Afton, Minn./Stillwater 5-6 MF
Molly Knoblauch, Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids 5-6 MF
Anna Koepke, Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids, 5-11 D
McKenna Lehman, Lakeville, Minn./North 5-7MF/F
Bella Meier, Hastings, Minn./Hastings Midfield, 5-7
Sofia Miranda, Sussex, Wis./Divine Savior Holy Angels HS 5-7 F
Tatum Trettel, Shoreview, Minn./Centennial 5-5 F
Olivia Paradise can be reached at para4336@stthomas.edu.
Scout Mason can be reached at maso7275@stthomas.edu.
Cam Kauffman can be reached at cam.kauffman@stthomas.edu.